We translate research into real-life strategies — without fear, blame, or overwhelm.
Research-informed insights, practical tools, and guides to help teens and families build healthier relationships with screens and digital media.
Three Research Principles That Guide Our Work
Content Matters
Good Programs Involve More Than Students
Hours Alone Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Objective device-data research shows that total screen time alone is only weakly associated with problematic smartphone and social networking use. Patterns, context, and purpose matter more than raw duration.
A study of 46,018 adolescents found that different types of smartphone content had different associations with social relationships: gaming was linked with slightly poorer outcomes, while informational and educational uses showed more positive associations.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found that school-based interventions were more effective when parents were involved, programs lasted longer, and external facilitators supported implementation.
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We provide clear guidance and actionable tools to support healthy screen use at home, and help teens build awareness, self-control, and confidence in their digital lives.
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We provide clear guidance and actionable tools to support healthy screen use at home, and help teens build awareness, self-control, and confidence in their digital lives.
Chapters Found
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We provide clear guidance and actionable tools to support healthy screen use at home, and help teens build awareness, self-control, and confidence in their digital lives.
Our VisionDigital wellness research can feel overwhelming or confusing.
Our goal is to make it clear, relevant, and usable.
Here you’ll find:
short research summaries
practical tip sheets
family and student toolkits
research-informed blog posts
All content is designed to support better sleep, focus, wellbeing, and communication around screen use.
What Effective Digital Wellness Programs Have in Common
Research suggests that the strongest youth digital wellness programs are not one-off awareness campaigns. They work best when they are sustained over time, involve families, and combine education with practical behavior support.
Source: Žmavc et al., 2025.
Parent involvement improves outcomes
Longer programs tend to work better than short workshops
School-based delivery helps normalize healthier habits
Behavior support > just telling teens to use phones less
Social & Emotional Health
“Research on social media and mental health shows a nuanced picture. Screen time alone is not a reliable predictor of anxiety or depression. Instead, outcomes are shaped by how, why, and when social media is used.”
Minute Digest
Screen Use, Sleep, and the Adolescent Body
“One of the most consistent findings in screen time research involves sleep. Across multiple large-scale studies, higher screen use — particularly at night — is associated with shorter sleep duration, later bedtimes, and poorer sleep quality in adolescents.”
Screen Time Conflict and Family Communication
Studies consistently show that screen use is one of the most common sources of parent–teen conflict. Many parents are “digital immigrants,” guiding teens who are “digital natives.” This dynamic can create frustration on both sides.
Digital Wellness Interventions: Promise and Gaps
A growing body of research examines interventions aimed at improving adolescent screen habits. These interventions typically fall into several categories:
School-based education programs
Parent training workshops
Digital literacy curricula
App-based monitoring tools
Real-time nudging systems
Why We Focus on Healthy Use — Not Just Less Use
The current research does not support a simple “all screen time is bad” message. Multiple studies show that outcomes vary based on timing, content, context, and whether the use is passive, social, educational, or compulsive. That is why STFY focuses on healthier use patterns, stronger routines, and better communication — not fear-based messaging.
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